Sliding window construction



June E3, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1965 FIG.2

m F W I T v v J T J A 4 33; N A w E F EQ i m 2? a INVENTOR SAMUEL RICHmwslxmwflam ATTORNEYS June 13%, R967 5. RICH 3,324,597

smnms wmnow CONSTRUCTION Filed June 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I W W/ A 7BY Ouuw mmm gtQmu ATTORNEYS 3,324,597 SLHDING WINDOW CONSTRUCTION SamuelRich, ()ak Park, Mich, assignor to Acorn Products Company, Detroit,Mich. Filed .llune 16, 1965, Ser. No. 464,585 Claims. (Cl. 49--4l06)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pair of framed sash, one of which isslidable and has a pair of grooves formed in the leading edge of itsframe, with an L-shaped sealing strip having one leg formed tointerchangeably fit within either of the grooves and a second, sealingstrip, leg arranged parallel to the leading edge. The other sash has asealing flange formed on each side of its leading edge, so that thesealing strip on the slidable sash interlocks with one of the flanges ofthe other sash, thereby permitting the sliding sash to be mounted foreither left or right hand movement.

Summary of invention This invention relates to a window construction,particularly useful in large size to function as both a window and aslidably openable access door, having a pair of window sash, one fixedand the other slidable, with the two sash having leading edgeinterlocking weather strip flanges which may be interlocked on eitherside of the sash so that the two sash may be positioned parallel to eachother, with either of their two faces adjacent to one another, within anouter Window frame for either left hand or right hand sliding of theslidable frame.

Disclosure This invention relates to a sliding window construction andmore particularly a window construction having large size door-like sashfor use as both an access door and a window and wherein one of thesashes is fixed in position and the other is slidably movable.

In large size windows, used as access doors, it is common to form one ofthe sashes as a fixed sash and the other as a movable sash, and tointerlock for sealing the adjacent frame edges of the two sashes, whenthe window is closed, by means of suitable sealing strips, and the like.In such construction, two types of sashes must be made, one for a lefthand operation and the other for a right hand operation, that is, wherethe movable sash is either on the left side or the right side. The needfor two different models for left and right hand opening presentsnumerous problems in fabrication, stocking, shipping, and installation.

Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide a windowconstruction having a fixed sash and a horizontally slidable sash withinterlocking sealing means formed on the adjacent sash frame elements,when the window is closed, and with these sealing means so formed thatit may be quickly and easily changed for either left or right handopening of the slidable door so that only one construction is needed forleft and right hand operation, and conversion of the unit for eitherleft or right hand operation may be done quickly and simply without theneed for any tools.

3324,57 Patented June 13, 1967 look with a sealing edge formed on eitherone or the other side of the fixed sash.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following description, of which the attacheddrawings form a part.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational, cross-sectional view of the windowconstruction.

FIG. 2 is a plan, cross-sectional view taken as if in the direction ofarrows 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the interlocking frameelements of the fixed and movable sash, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the movable sealing strip used inconnection with the movable sash.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective view of a fragment of the frame ofthe movable sash and showing the sealing strip in position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the window unit is formed of an outer frame11 comprising a header 12, a sill 13 and jambs 14, all connectedtogether at their ends, in any conventional manner, to form arectangular frame.

Within the outer frame is mounted a framed screen 15, a framed fixedsash 16 and a framed slidable sash 17, with glazing units 18 securedwithin the sash/ frames. The glazing units may be each formed of twosheets of glass arranged parallel and spaced apart and mounted withinthe sash frames by means of plastic channel stripping, all of which isconventional.

The screen is arranged to slide horizontally upon a screen track 20formed integral with the sill. 13, by means of rollers 19 mounted withinthe lower frame element of the screen.

The slidable sash 17 is provided with rollers 22 for riding upon aslidable sash track 21 formed intgeral with the sill 13. The fixed sash16 rests upon a wide fixed sash track 23 and is held against sliding bymeans of a suitable stop 24.

The outer frame jambs are each provided with a channel 25 to receive thevertical edges of the slidable sash 17, and one leg 26 of such channelis bent into a camlike curve for camming the slidable sash in adirection away from the fixed sash and into secure contact with aWeatherstrip 27 mounted within such channel 25.

Likewise, channels 28 are formed in the jambs to receive the verticaledge of the fixed sash 16 and one leg 29 of such channel is bent into acurved cam-like shape to press the sash into engagement with aWeatherstrip 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slidable sash 17 would be on the inside of abuilding within which the frame is mounted, and the screen 15 would beon the outside of the building. Thus, a person standing in the buildingand looking out would have the slidable sash on his left and would openthe slidable sash by moving it towards his right.

The movable and fixed sashes may be reversed by lifting them out of theouter frame and placing the movable sash on the right and the fixed sashon the left, as it would appear from looking out of the building.

The two sashes are interlocked at their overlapping leading edge frameelements as shown in FIG. 2. The leading edge or vertical frame elementof the slidable sash, generally designated 33, is U-shaped incross-section, as is the corresponding vertical or leading edge frameelement 34 of the fixed sash 16.

Referring to FIG. 3, the vertical frame element 34 of the fixed sash 16is provided with a pair of flanges 35 on its opposite sides, eachconnected by an integral extension 36 to the base of the U-shaped frameelement. The flanges 35 are arranged parallel to the legs of theU-shaped frame element 34, and their free or leading edges are taperedat 37 on their sides facing towards their 3 adjacent frame element legsto form wedge-like leading edges. In addition, each flange is providedwith a weatherstrip channel 38 within which Weatherstrip 39 is mounted.

The leading edge or vertical frame element 33 of the movable sash 17 isprovided with an L-shaped member 40 having a fastening leg 41 and asealing strip leg 42. The leg 41 is provided with a T-shaped tonguearranged to slidably fit into a T-shaped groove 44 formed in the base ofthe framed element 33 near one leg thereof or alternatively into acorresponding T-shaped groove formed at the opposite corner or side ofthe frame element (see dotted lines showing element 40 in oppositegroove).

As shown in FIG. 4, the underside of the cross-bar of the T-shapedtongue is provided, at its outer edges, with continuous beads 45, andthe tongue 43 relatively loosely fits within the groove 44, beinginserted therein, longitudinally of the tongue.

The sealing strip leg portion 42 is provided with a Weatherstrip groove46 within which Weatherstripping 47 is mounted and its leading or freeedge is tapered at 48 to form a Wedge-shaped leading edge.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the window is closed, the vertical elements ofthe two sashes overlap and the sealing strip leg 42 of the movable sashinterlocks with the fixed flange 35 adjacent to it. The wedging actionof the leading edges of the sealing strip and the flange respectively,tends to pivot the L-shaped member to thus cause one of the beads 45 totightly press into its adjacent groove portion, as well as to cause thefree end of the leg 41 to tightly engage the base of the U-shapedvertical element to thereby form a tight seal.

Should it be desired to mount the windows in the opposite direction,that is, with the movable sash opening in the opposite direction, thenthe L-shaped sealing element 40 is removed from the channel within whichit is mounted as shown in FIG. 2, and replaced into the oppositechannel, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, where it will engage theopposite flange 35. In this way, the unit is completely interchangeablefor either left or right hand operation, and all that is required is toremove the sashes from the frame, and reverse them, but before replacingthe movable sash, sliding out the element 40 and replacing it in theopposite groove.

Meanwhile, the flange 35 which is not then being used is so arrangedthat its Weatherstripping 38 will engage the frame of the screen asshown in FIG. 2 for sealing and for preventing rattling.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of thefollowing claims. Accordingly, it is desired that the foregoingdescription be read as being merely illustrative of an operativeembodiment of this invention, and not in a strictly limited sense.

Having described an operative embodiment of this invention, I now claim:

1. A horizontally slidable Window comprising an outer frame, and a fixedframed window and a horizontally slidable framed window supported withinsaid outer frame; each window having an inner, vertical frame element,with the two frame elements overlapping when the windows are closed; afixed flange having an edge formed integral with the fixed frame windowelement, said fixed flange being parallel to and spaced at shortdistance from and extending the full height of its element, and havingan inner face facing towards its element, and an outer face remote fromits element, with the free end of the flange at its inner face beingtapered towards its element as well as its integral edge to form awedge-like leading edge; said slidable frame element having a T-shapedgroove formed therein and extending its full height; an L-shaped incrosssection, elongated strip having a T-shaped tongue formed integralwith and extending the length of one leg of the strip, the tongue beingslidably, but loosely fitted within said groove, and the other leg ofthe strip forming a sealing strip and being arranged parallel to andspaced a short distance from the slidable element, and the free edge ofsaid sealing strip being tapered towards the slidable frame element andsaid one leg to form a wedgelike leading edge; said sealing strip andsaid flange being arranged in approximately the same vertical plane andopposing each other for frictionally interlocking together to seal saidelements together when the window is closed; said slidable window frameelement being U-shaped in cross-section, and said T-shaped groove beingformed in the base thereof adjacent to one leg of the U-shape, and asecond T-shaped groove formed in the base adjacent to the other leg ofthe U-shape; said T-shape tongue being interchangeably fitted into oneor the other T- shaped grooves for selectively positioning the sealingstrip adjacent to one or the other of the legs of the U-shaped elementfor thereby reversing the direction of opening of the sliding Window;and said fixed window frame element having a second flange identical tobut formed reversely of the first mentioned flange, with the flangesformed on opposite sides of their element wherein either of the flangeswill interlock with the sealing strip.

2. A window comprising an outer frame, and a framed sash slidable in theframe, with one frame member of the frame of the sash forming a leadingedge formed of an elongated channel having a base and side walls; a pairof grooves formed in said base; an L-shaped member having a leg formedwith a tongue for slidably fitting within either one of said grooves,and a leg formed as a sealing strip arranged parallel to and spaced ashort distance from one of said walls when the tongue is fitted into thegroove nearest to that one wall; the free end of said strip beingtapered into a wedge-shaped crosssection; a fixed element secured withinsaid outer frame and arranged parallel to said channel Walls andarranged to overlap said one wall; a wedge-shaped flange formed on eachof the opposite sides of said fixed element approximately parallel toand opposing said sealing strip for selectively interlocking with thesealing strip between the sealing strip and its nearest channel wall.

3. A construction as defined in claim 2 and said fixed element being aframe member of a framed, fixed sash, wherein the slidable and fixedsashes may be selectively mounted within the outer frame for slidingopen of the slidable frame in either one of two directions.

4. A construction as defined in claim 3, and including a channel formedon the outer frame for receiving the edge of the slidable sash oppositeto its leading edge, said channel having a channel defining leg bentinto a curved cross-section for camming the sash away from the plane ofthe fixed cross-member when the sash is closed.

5. A construction as defined in claim 2, and each of said grooves beingT-shaped in cross-section with the free end of the base of the T formingthe mouth of the groove; said tongue also being T-shaped incross-section for endwise sliding into either of the grooves, with anarrow edge bead formed on the lower edges of the opposite ends of thecross-bar forming the T-shaped tongue; said tongue being relativelyloosely fitted within either of the grooves so that interlocking of thesealing strip with one of the flanges causes the L-shaped member topivot relative to its element to thus tightly press one of the beadsagainst an adjacent area of the groove, within which the tongue isfitted, for frictionally locking and sealing the bead within and againstthe groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,355 6/1937 Peremi et al.49489 X 2,918,708 12/1959 Sharp et al. l60-90 X 3,114,943 12/1963Casebolt l60-90 X 3,114,944 12/1963 Horgan 49-425 X 3,136,396 6/1964Sullivan 49-425 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. P. C. KANNAN,Assismnt Examiner.

1. A HORIZONTALLY SLIDABLE WINDOW COMPRISING AN OUTER FRAME, AND A FIXEDFRAMED WINDOW AND A HORIZONTALLY SLIDABLE FRAMED WINDOW SUPPORTED WITHINSAID OUTER FRAME; EACH WINDOW HAVING AN INNER, VERTICAL FRAME ELEMENT,WITH THE TWO FRAME ELEMENTS OVERLAPPING WHEN THE WINDOWS ARE CLOSED; AFIXED FLANGE HAVING AN EDGE FORMED INTEGRAL WITH THE FIXED FRAME WINDOWELEMENT, SAID FIXED FLANGE BEING PARALLEL TO AND SPACED A SHORT DISTANCEFROM AND EXTENDING THE FULL HEIGHT OF ITS ELEMENT, AND HAVING AN INNERFACE FACING TOWARDS ITS ELEMENT, AND AN OUTER FACE REMOTE FROM ITSELEMENT, WITH THE FREE END OF THE FLANGE AT ITS INNER FACE BEING TAPEREDTOWARDS ITS ELEMENT AS WELL AS ITS INTEGRAL EDGE TO FORM A WEDGE-LIKELEADING EDGE; SAID SLIDALBE FRAME ELEMENT HAVING A T-SHAPED GROOVEFORMED THEREIN AND EXTENDING ITS FUL HEIGHT; AND L-SHAPED INCROSSSECTION, ELONGATED STRIP HAVING A T-SHAPED TONGUE FORMED INTEGRALWITH AND EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF ONE LEG OF THE STRIP, THE TONGUE BEINGSLIDABLY, BUT LOOSELY FITTED WITHIN SAID GROOVE, AND THE OTHER LEG OFTHE STRIP FORMING A SEALING STRIP AND BEING ARRANGED PARALLEL TO ANDSPACED A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE SLIDABLE ELEMENT, AND THE FREE EDGE OFSAID SEALING STRIP BEING TAPERED TOWARDS THE SLIDABLE FRAME ELEMENT ANDSAID ONE LEG TO FORM A WEDGELIKE LEADING EDGE; SAID SEALING STRIP ANDSAID FLANGE BEING ARRANGED IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME VERTICAL PLANE ANDOPPOSING EACH OTHER FOR FRICTIONALLY INTERLOCKING TOGETHER TO SEAL SAIDELEMENTS TOGETHER WHEN THE WINDOW IS CLOSED; SAID SLIDABLE WINDOW FRAMEELEMENT BEING U-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION, AND SAID T-SHAPED GROOVE BEINGFORMED IN THE BASE THEREOF ADJACENT TO ONE LEG OF THE U-SHAPED, AND ASECOND T-SHAPED GROOVE FORMED IN THE BASE ADJACENT TO THE OTHER LEG OFTHE U-SHAPE; SAID T-SHAPE TONGUE BEING INTERCHANGEABLY FITTED INTO ONEOR THE OTHER TSHAPED GROOVES FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING THE SEALINGSTRIP ADJACENT TO ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE LEGS OF THE U-SHAPED ELEMENTFOR THEREBY REVERSING THE DIRECTION OF OPENING OF THE SLIDING WINDOW;AND SAID FIXED WINDOW FRAME ELEMENT HAVING A SECOND FLANGE IDENTICAL TOBUT FORMED REVERSELY OF THE FIRST MENTIONED FLANGE, WITH THE FLANGESFORMED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEIR ELEMENT WHEREIN EITHER OF THE FLANGESWILL INTERLOCK WITH THE SEALING STRIP.